Monroeville police chief retires for health reasons

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Monroeville Police Chief Steve Pascarella, who was placed on short-term disability leave in October, has resigned as police chief because of health reasons, according to municipal manager Lynette McKinney. He will return to duty as a lieutenant, his last civil service position, she said in a statement.

Mr. Pascarella, 45, became interim chief in February, when the chief at that time was demoted and later, fired. Council members promoted Mr. Pascarella to chief in March on a 4-3 vote, but since then "the position has had an extreme negative effect on his health which he can no longer endure," Ms. McKinney said in a statement.

"Furthermore, he cited the abuse that his family has been subjected to," she said. "He stated that he and his family have had to face intentionally politically motivated attacks which are unacceptable and should not have to be tolerated by any employee."

Mr. Pascarella, she said, accomplished several positive goals for Monroeville, including shutting down a dispatch computer system that was leaking sensitive personal information to unauthorized people and hiring 14 new officers to bring the force back to its full complement of 50.

Sgt. Rob McConnell, a 25-year veteran with the department who has been supervising its operations since Mr. Pascarella went on leave, will be the officer in charge of the department until a new police chief is hired, Ms. McKinney said. That process will begin Monday, she said.

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